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When to Plant Mizuna in Lebanon County, PA

Lebanon County, Pennsylvania Zone 7a May

May to-do list for Lebanon County, Pennsylvania

Each item below is timed to Lebanon County, Pennsylvania's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost April 21
Avg. first frost October 22
Soil temp (4") 62°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.2 hrs
  1. Time to start mizuna inside

    Label every cell. You will absolutely forget which is which otherwise.

  2. It's harvest week for mizuna

    Morning harvests are best — cooler temperatures mean crisper produce and longer fridge life.

June prep starts now
  • First harvests: mizuna

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Mizuna is a mild-flavored Japanese mustard green with feathery, deeply serrated leaves. It is fast-growing and makes an excellent addition to salads and stir-fries.

Lebanon County, Pennsylvania is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 21 and the first fall frost is October 22, giving you a growing season of approximately 184 days.

At an elevation of 522 feet, Lebanon County receives approximately 44.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 88°F, providing good warmth for Mizuna during the growing season.

Lebanon County, PA (Zone 7a) Moderate season
184 days
Last Spring Frost April 21
184 growing days
First Fall Frost October 22

Lebanon County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.2-6.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (124 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 10 Transplant: Apr 14 🍅 Harvest: May 19 – Jun 16
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (121 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 17 Transplant: Apr 21 🍅 Harvest: May 26 – Jun 23
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (114 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 4 Transplant: May 9 🍅 Harvest: Jun 13 – Jul 11

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Lebanon County

How your county's soil matches Mizuna's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.2–6.8) overlaps with Mizuna's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Lebanon County is excellent for Mizuna — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.5%). Annual compost additions will help Mizuna.

How to Plant Mizuna

0.5"
Planting Depth
6"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Mizuna

7
successive plantings in your 184-day season

Sow every 3.4 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 07 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 13.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Mizuna

Mizuna needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Mizuna Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 3.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 3.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 3.9" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 4.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 4.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 3.3" 1" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Nov 3.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Lebanon County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Mizuna Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Mizuna needs ~600 GDD — county provides 2,944 GDD Excellent fit

Mizuna Planting Timeline — Lebanon County, PA

Mizuna Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 17 Mar 17 – Mar 31
Transplant Outdoors April 21 Apr 21 – May 5
Direct Sow April 7 Apr 7 – Apr 28
Harvest May 26 May 26 – Jun 23
Fall Sowing August 13 Aug 13 – Aug 27

Plant 0.5" deep · 6" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Harvest
June Harvest
July
August Fall Sowing
September
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

30–45 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

184 days in Lebanon County

Growing Tips for Mizuna in Lebanon County

Direct sow Mizuna outdoors after April 21 in Lebanon County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 184.0-day season in Lebanon County allows multiple plantings of Mizuna. Sow every 15.0 days for continuous harvest.

Common pests for Mizuna in this region include cabbage worm and flea beetles. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Direct sow in spring or fall. Harvest outer leaves as needed for a cut-and-come-again approach. Mizuna is one of the most cold-tolerant Asian greens.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Strawberries

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Mizuna in Lebanon County, PA?

Lebanon County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 21. Plan your Mizuna planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lebanon County, PA?

Lebanon County, Pennsylvania is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 21 and first fall frost is October 22.

🌱

Your Lebanon County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Lebanon County (Zone 7a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Lebanon County, PA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.